Tahara: Among African Tribes Part 23

"Peace, peace! Gold is nothing to me. It is the crown I seek. The crown that has been in the treasuries of great kings but now has vanished. King Solomon had it as a gift from the Queen of Sheba. It was lost for centuries, then found in the Court of an Abyssinian king.

Then it disappeared. Where it is now, I know not."

"Why don't you look for it in your crystal?"

"I have tried. Many times. But the magic of the crown is stronger than my own. It refuses to show itself in my crystal sphere."

"Why do you want it so much?" asked Dan.

"Because upon that crown is engraved the secret of wisdom. It is a secret that is older than man. If I could look upon that symbol and fix it upon my memory, I would give all the riches in the world."

d.i.c.k was thinking hard. He turned impatiently, as Raal approached him and asked, "O mighty Tahara, when do we start?"

"Soon, Raal, very soon."

"My heart is heavy, Master, when I think of the princess held captive."

"And what about me?" exclaimed Dan. "Am I to wait around here talking, while my sister's life is in danger?"

"Peace, peace, children!" said the Mahatma. "All will be well if you have patience."

"We will never get to the camp today!" exclaimed Dan.

"Then we can fight by the light of the full moon," d.i.c.k retorted sharply. "Don't break in on the Mahatma when he is planning things.

By this time you ought to know that you make better time by following his advice."

The Hindu raised both hands above his head and closed his eyes, murmuring, "The voice that led me here, tells me that I shall learn more about the ancient crown. My time here is nearly at an end."

"Let me tell you about the crown of the two tribes," said d.i.c.k. "It is old and very heavy and set with uncut gems. And it is covered with signs like picture writing," and d.i.c.k described it as well as he could remember.

"You have seen this crown?"

"I have had it on my head," replied the Boy King.

"Where is it now?"

"Not here, Mahatma. It is too heavy to wear for long, and too valuable to carry on a war expedition, so I placed it in the safest spot I know."

"Tell me! Tell me where it is hidden," cried the Hindu.

Never before had d.i.c.k seen him show excitement. Now his voice trembled with eagerness.

"Do you think the crown of the Taharans and Gorols is the lost diadem?"

asked d.i.c.k. "The one that the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon?"

"I believe it is the same. I cannot rest un I have seen it. Tell me where it is."

d.i.c.k started to say that he had placed it in the cave of the Great Gorol, the Ape-G.o.d in the land of the Gorols. Then it occurred to him that if Mahatma were told, he would lose all interest in helping rescue the captives. It would be better to hold the secret until Ray and his father were saved and Veena restored to Raal.

"Patience, patience, O Mahatma Sikandar," said d.i.c.k softly.

"Patience! _You_ preach patience to me?"

"Yes, O wise man. For until you have set free the captives I seek, you shall never learn where the crown is hidden."

"But you must tell me."

"Later. After the battle."

"But suppose you should be killed?"

"Then my secret perishes with me. You shall never see King Solomon's crown and you shall never read the words of highest wisdom."

"Attaboy!" exclaimed Dan. "You've got the Mahatma where you want him, d.i.c.k. Make him set Ray free, or tell him nothing."

The Mahatma tightened his lips to keep back an angry retort and then spoke gently:

"My life is all in vain if I fail to see the crown you have hidden."

"Look for it in your crystal!" cried Dan.

Sikandar ignored him and continued to d.i.c.k Oakwood, "With the symbol on that crown in my memory, I could travel through the air to my own land.

I could go to the high-built lamasaries of Tibet. I could enter the presence of the holy Dalai Lama himself and find welcome in the circles of the wise men of the high places."

"You can do all those things, once you have set free the captives,"

said d.i.c.k firmly.

"Sure," said Dan. "We will help you. My father has a plane that will fly you to India."

"Your father will fly with me to Holy India?" The Mahatma looked at Dan for the first time with respectful interest. "The voice told me that it would be so," he replied. "An unlicked cub would first annoy me by his foolish teasing, then would cause me to be carried through the air to the land of the sacred Ganges."

"Any place you want to go!" said Dan.

"Help me first, and we'll show you the crown and fly with you to India," d.i.c.k promised.

"Only we can't waste any more time here," urged Dan.

"Raal and his warriors are impatient," said d.i.c.k. "And so am I."

"Enough!" The Mahatma was through preaching patience. He clapped his hands and the tracker Mutaba ran to him, falling on his knees and awaiting orders.

"The days of peace are ended," said Sikandar.

"Good, O Holy Man!"

"And my days with you are nearly at an end."

Mutaba uttered a wail of grief, but Sikandar spoke sharply: